Piano lamp



M. HERR P'IANo LAMP Filed Oct. 2'7. 19:59

July 21,1942.

R INVENTOR v ATTORNEY.

MAX HER Patented July 21, 1942 2,290,282 Y PIANO .LAMP Max Herr,Chicago, Ill.

Application October 2'7, 1939, Serial N0. 301,666

5 Claims.

This invention relates in general to electric lamps and lamp attachingmeans which are particularly designed for use in connection with grandpianos, whereby means is afforded for illuminating music sheets on themusic support or rack without subjecting the performers eyes to glare.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lamp of thischaracter which includes a simple and effective means for detachablyassociating the same with the forward ends of the cross rails of thegrand piano sounding board which extend in front of the music rack sothat the lamp supporting bracket extends upwardly with the lamp housingand reflector in a position to flood the music on said rack withsufficient light to facilitate the reading of the music on the piano.

The invention furthermore comprehends a clamping element provided withsecuring jaws and adjustable set-screws to afford a rigid-connection forthe bracket to the piano.

The invention furthermore comprehends means for adjusting the lampbracket forwardly and r'earwardly and also means for adjusting the lampcasing and housing horizontally with respect to the music rack andkeyboard thereof.

The invention furthermore contemplates a piano lamp unit comprising afluorescent lamp or a gaseous electric discharge lamp consisting of atubular glass container provided at opposite ends with filamentarythermionic electrodes, said container being closed by metal discs sealedto each end thereof and with an electrode mounted on each of said discsand electrically connected thereto, the disc being shaped to engage withsuitable holders for the mounting of said lamp. Said lamp being adaptedto receive a hood or reflector which is preferably constructed of sheetmetal and comprises a cylindrical body which is normally arrangedhorizontally and of substantially the same length as the glasscontainer, said reflector partially encircling said lamp and providingin one side a longitudinal light outlet opening, said reflector beingadjustably mounted upon said lamp bulb.

The invention still furthermore contemplates a piano lamp constructionwhich is comparatively simple, inexpensive to manufacture and highlyeflicient in its purpose.

the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical view of a grand piano equipped with oneform of electric lamp embodying my invention; the side boards of thepiano being removed to show said lamp mounted on said piano, and alsoshowing the position of said lamp with relation to piano.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a similar type grand pianoequipped with one embodiment of the present invention showing the lampbracket clamped to the sounding board of the piano and with the lampmounted thereon, and also showing the relation of the illuminating unitto the music rack of said piano.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View of one of the sounding board railswith one end of a lamp clamped thereon, showing an end view of the lamphousing, one of the lamp bulb supports, and the lamp reflector.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of one embodiment of the present invention,showing the relation of the illuminating element to the lamp supportingbracket and clamping means.

'Like reference character designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, thepiano lamp is constructed to be applied to a grand piano and mountedupon the rails of the sounding board thereof, and arranged forwardly of,and below, the usual music rack or support In, associated with the grandpiano l2.

The piano lamp unit is provided with a fluorescent lamp bulb |4 providedat opposite ends with filamentary thermionic electrodes consisting offinely-coiled tungsten wire; these electrodes have not been shown in thedrawing as they are within the tubular glass container or bulb. Saidbulb being closed and sealed by metal discs each having metal electrodesmounted thereon. Said electrodes suitably supported by the lamp supportsI5 and I6 secured to the end portions of lamp housing IT. The lamphousing I! contains and encloses the usual transformer and partsnecessary for use with a fluorescent lamp bulb I 4.

the music rack on said 'The housing I! is equipped with a snap switchand manually operated button 18 at one end thereof, said housing adaptedto receive the extension cord [9 which extends thru the end portion 20of said housing, said cord preferably extending laterally over the topof the piano so that the finish of said piano will not be marred byspecial fixtures mounted thereon.

The lamp supporting bracket 22 is mounted upon the sounding board rails23 and secured thereto by clamping members 24 and 25. Said bracket 22 isan L shaped metal bar composed of a vertical portion 26 and a horizontalportion 21. The horizontal portion 21 is adapted to rest upon the rails23 and become clamped thereto by the horizontal members 28 and 29forming a part of members 24 and 25. The former clamp portions 28 and 29have set screws 30 and 3| adapted to be turned as desired so as tosecure the bracket 22 rigidly to the rails of said piano, the clamps 24and 25 being rigidly secured to the same rails by set screws 32 and 33.Due to the channel or U shaped formation of said members 24 and 25, saidmembers flt over the top of said rails and form a very eflicientclamping means.

The lamp housing I! is provided with supporting arms 34, each formedfrom a strip of thin metal, and comprising a horizontal arm 35 carryingupon its forward end an attaching lug 35 secured to the back side ofsaid housing by welding or other suitable means. A vertical abutment 3'!extends downwardly from the rear end of the arm 35-. Said horizontal arm35 is so designed that it can rest upon or be elevated by the verticalsupport 26. It is important to note that the arms 35 snugly engage thevertical support 26 but are so arranged and designed that the housing I!can be moved horizontally as desired without the use of tools or thelike, since the frictional engagement of the members 34 affords the soleclamping means.

As shown by the drawing the lamp bulb is substantially enclosed by ahood or reflector which is preferably constructed of sheet metal andcomprises a cylindrical body 40 which is normally arranged horizontallyand provided in its rear side with a longitudinal light outlet opening4|, and two circular clamping members 42 mounted upon the interiorthereof. These clamping members 42 are pliable and yielding so as toencircle the lamp bulb, being attached to the reflector by bolts 43having enlarged heads thereon to support and space the reflector asuitable distance from said bulb.

It is important to note that the bulb shown in Figure 4 is covered atits mid-section by a cylinder 45 constructed of paper or other suitablematerial to diffuse the light and lessen the intensity of the glare atthe mid-section of the music supported upon the rack of said piano. Ithas been found that where sheet music is folded, this mid-section has atendency to reflect a bright light and cause an uncomfortable glare uponthe other sections of the sheet music.

It is important to note that my novel piano lamp and improvements relatemore particularly to the lamp and its mounting whereby this lamp isdetachably supported on the sounding board of the piano without drillingor marring the piano at any section. The heat from the electric bulb isprevented from being transmitted from the reflector or bulb to anyhighly flnished or varnished surfaces so that scorching or marring ofthe same is avoided due to location of attachment. In applying this lampit is only necessary to place the lamp supporting bar upon the crossrails of the sounding board and clamp the same rigidly thereon by thenovel clamping means described herein, the lamp itself can now bedropped in place so that the supporting arms will rest upon thesupporting bracket,- said lamp being so mounted that it can be freelymoved horizontally upon said support.

Owing to the compact and neat construction of this lamp, the same whenmounted on a piano does not detract from the appearance of the piano butrather enhances the same.

It is obvious that the invention above described may be embodied inother details of construction without departing from the spirit or ascope of the invention. Therefore, I do not desire to be limited in theconstruction and use of the invention except as required by thefollowing claims when construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A lamp for a grand piano having sounding board cross rails and amusic rack comprising a housing enclosing electrical means and. havingan extension cord attached therewith, with means mounted thereon toreceive and support a lamp bulb and a light reflector connectedtherewith, a supporting bracket therefor and clamping means for securingthe same to the rails within said piano, said housing having adjustableconnection with the bracket and said bracket having adjustableconnection with the clamping means, the said clamping means includinglocking means to secure said bracket rigidly to said sounding boardcross rails.

2. A lamp for a grand piano having sounding board cross rails and amusic rack comprising a housing enclosing electrical auxiliaries, meansmounted thereon to receive and support a lamp bulb and a light reflectorcarried therewith, an L shaped supporting brackettherefor and clampingmeans engaging with said bracket for securing the same to the soundingboard rails within said piano, said housing having adjustable connectionwith the vertical portion of said bracket and said bracket havingadjustable connection with the clamping means, the said clamping meansincluding locking means to secure the horizontal portion of said bracketrigidly to said rails.

3. The combination with a grand piano having sounding board cross railsand a music rack, of an electric lamp fixture comprising a housing forenclosing the lamp auxiliaries, a supporting bracket therefor and aclamping means engaged therewith, said housing being slidably mounted onsaid bracket, and said clampingmeans being adjustably mounted on saidbracket, said clamping means embodying a groove to receive and bemounted upon the cross rails within said piano, said clamping means alsoincluding locking means to secure said bracket rigidly to said pianocross rails, said housing supporting an electric bulb and a reflectorwhich extend horizontally and in the direction of the length of themusic rack on said piano, said reflector provided with a longitudinallight emitting opening arranged with respect to said music rack to floodthe same with sufficient light to facilitate reading the music placedupon the rack of the piano.

4. A lamp for a grand piano having sounding board cross rails includinga housing and a supporting bracket, a clamping means carried by saidbracket for attaching the same to the cross rails of the sounding boardof said grand piano comprising slotted portions and locking meanstherefor, said housing mounted on said bracket supporting a fluorescentlamp bulb thereon and enclosing .the usual transformer and automaticswitch necessary for use with a fluorescent lamp bulb, said bulb havinga cylindrical reflector mounted thereon, said reflector having alongitudinal light emitting opening arranged and positioned before themusic rack on said piano to flood the same with suflicient light tofacilitate reading the music supported upon the rack of the piano.

5. A lamp for a grand piano having soundboard cross rails and a musicrack including a horizontal housing for the lamp auxiliaries and an Lshaped supporting bracket, clamping means in contact with said bracketfor securing the same rigidly to said cross rails of the sounding boardof said grand piano, said clamping means also comprising a slottedportion and suitable locking means, said housing slidably mounted on thevertical portion of said bracket and supporting a fluorescent lamp bulbthereon and enclosing the usual transformer and automatic switchnecessary for use with a fluorescent lamp bulb, said bulb having anadjustable cylindrical reflector mounted thereon, said reflector havinga longitudinal light emitting opening positioned before the music rackon said piano to flood the same with suflicient light to facilitatereading the music supported upon the rack of the piano.

MAX HERR.

